Also, Spurs do look decent so far, but I reckon have been kinda fortunate to collect all the points in those matches. Still, that's what you need in this league, and Liverpool have had a fair wee bit so far, too.

Anyway, Man City....gonna have some problems this season. I'm curious to see what happens tomorrow night, because I though Chelsea looked rough against Villa, and if United look rough against Chelsea, then this league is literally anyone's.

We're still on for 114 points Peaches. 2 1-0 penalty wins isn't particularly convincing, but Spurs have been easily the better side in both. The penalty today I thought was a tad soft but legit. Townsend went over easy but Shelvey unnecessarily thrust his knee into his leg as he went past, which was a pretty bonehead move.

Hawkspur wrote:Gate - I doubt Swansea would selk, but Arsenal should try to buy Vorm. Fulham was pretty wasteful yesterday but Carzola had them in knots.

What I got after finally watching the whole match was that Cazorla had Fulham thinking down was up, up was down, left was Nebraska and right was Singapore. Ramsey again was impressive for the 2nd game in a row. Podolski again proved how dangerous he is, especially when he disappears, he makes opponents forget he's out there, then pops up and unleashes that left footed shot and the results was both goals he scored, the first of which could've decapitated Brede Hangeland(or KO'd him). And then Giroud again keeps proving that another striker shouldn't be the main priority for Arsenal. I know everyone wants Arsenal to buy a proven goal scorer, I do to, but Arsenal have to reinforce other positions, mainly CB, before they go elsewhere. Vorm might be a good signing if Arsenal were to go and get him, that would be #2 on my priority list if I was Wenger. Another striker would be #3 and I wouldn't mind if it ends up being someone to use as a back up for Giroud, cause Olivier continues to improve with each game and I'd rather see a rotating starting striker set up than a starting striker and one that is either only used when the game is decided or when the starter shouldn't be subbed off is subbed off.

Hawkspur wrote:We're still on for 114 points Peaches. 2 1-0 penalty wins isn't particularly convincing, but Spurs have been easily the better side in both. The penalty today I thought was a tad soft but legit. Townsend went over easy but Shelvey unnecessarily thrust his knee into his leg as he went past, which was a pretty bonehead move.

Ha ha City! Long may that continue.

I don't think anyone felt that penalty decision was a penalty. I mean how is this a penalty?Shelvy almost looks likes he's trying to avoid Townsend, who was looking for contact to go down to. Everyone would've been more at ease if the referee made the correct call on that decision in the first half.

MANUNITED23 wrote:Cardiff took their chances very well against City. City's defense is absolutely atrocious and there is no way they can compete for a title with such defense.

Still plenty of time to sort it out. This is common when there's a manager/philosophy change, it can take the midfield and defense a while to get used to the new system. City will be just fine, and will fight it out with Chelsea for the title this year. The rest of us will battle for the 3rd and 4th spots.

Can't help but fancy Liverpool to nick this one on Sunday. United's build-up play has been shite so far this season, they just try to funnel everything to RVP and let him score. I fancy 3-1, with Coutinho, Sturridge and maybe Gerrard to score. Liverpool should handle the middle of the park and give their fullbacks fits all game.

peachesenregalia wrote:Can't help but fancy Liverpool to nick this one on Sunday. United's build-up play has been shite so far this season, they just try to funnel everything to RVP and let him score. I fancy 3-1, with Coutinho, Sturridge and maybe Gerrard to score. Liverpool should handle the middle of the park and give their fullbacks fits all game.

peachesenregalia wrote:Can't help but fancy Liverpool to nick this one on Sunday. United's build-up play has been shite so far this season, they just try to funnel everything to RVP and let him score. I fancy 3-1, with Coutinho, Sturridge and maybe Gerrard to score. Liverpool should handle the middle of the park and give their fullbacks fits all game.

peachesenregalia wrote:Can't help but fancy Liverpool to nick this one on Sunday. United's build-up play has been shite so far this season, they just try to funnel everything to RVP and let him score. I fancy 3-1, with Coutinho, Sturridge and maybe Gerrard to score. Liverpool should handle the middle of the park and give their fullbacks fits all game.

Bloody Liverpool. No reason that should ever have gone to extra time. Now Toure looks seriously hurt, Cissokho's picked up a knock and the whole team will be knackered unnecessarily. Life as a Liverpool fan is never easy, I'll tell you.

peachesenregalia wrote:About as embarrassing as any of the other humiliations we've suffered over the years.

or any other team... i actually think it showed a bit of character to net two goals the last 15 minutes down to 10 men.

Absolutely. I like to think that after going 2-nil up by the half, the team sort of had their minds on the scum at the weekend. Disappointed for Kolo, Joe Allen is made of glass, and I think Cissokho will be fine.

the Kolo bit is disappointing. I guess a positive may be that we end up with 2-3 new players by weeks end. If BR was holding out on new transfers because he thought Sterling/Ibe/Alberto/Wisdom are not ready to shoulder the load in a top 4 race. While I think they have bags of potential, the squad needs strong, experienced players in it now. Something to strengthen the team as those 4 evolve and develop.

Sakho seems logical (and near). I'd like to see a winger (not Moses, maybe Atsu) and hopefully a CM.

peachesenregalia wrote:Where on the pitch does Sakho play? We really need a CB. Atsu would be nice, or Arda Turan.

Sakho is a CB very much in the mold of Toure. Big, strong CB. Not necessarily the Technical player that BR wants out of the back, but hopefully he's learning 1-0 wins stopping the beastly forwards of the PL (like Bentake) is far more important in England than CBs that can spray passes.

Atsu would be a good shout. Turan would be perfect. Honda and Shaqiri are available if we feel like experience over youth (and to me would bridge that wing position perfectly as Ibe/Sterling develop) Still want to see Ericksen here. We honestly are not deep enough at CM as far as quality goes, and last night showed it.

Sakho could be ours for 12, Ericksen for 15-18, Turan for 15-18, Atsu as low as 5. Thiago Llori is another option at CB. very young still though. More of a replacement for Coates.

InSuarezWeTrust wrote:I don't understand why we haven't made a push for Eriksen. What exactly are the flaws in his game? He will be a value for Spurs most likely.

He wont go to Spurs. (i dont think so atleast). He wants to feature, or at the very least be in a CL club. Spurs dont offer either.

Not sure why Liverpool havent made a more concerted push. with the loss of Allen and the obvious weaknesses our CMs have shown in the second halves of the first 3 games it seems to me it would be a piority

i wonder about ericksen. was set for a big club last year and priced at upwards of 30 million. this summer he goes to a non cl team with bags of depth at cm late in the window for like 12 with no other bids. what happened there? lamelas the real deal though

Looks like Llori will arrive tomorrow. I REALLY hope for an Arda Turan-type before the window closes. Love seeing United faild to get another of their midfield targets. Who have United even signed in this window?

peachesenregalia wrote:Looks like Llori will arrive tomorrow. I REALLY hope for an Arda Turan-type before the window closes. Love seeing United faild to get another of their midfield targets. Who have United even signed in this window?

Sakho too apparently. That would be massive.

Doesn't appear they are in for another attacking player. Just treading water until Suarez returns then go a rotation of Aspas/Sterling/Ibe until winter....

Uncle Si wrote:i wonder about ericksen. was set for a big club last year and priced at upwards of 30 million. this summer he goes to a non cl team with bags of depth at cm late in the window for like 12 with no other bids. what happened there? lamelas the real deal though

The one man team buys almost a whole team!

It's going to be very interesting to see who settles into the team & league well and who doesn't, as well as how the team gels. All I know is that the new signings who've played have all looked like upgrades so far, apart from filling Bale's place, obviously. I hope that Ericksen is better than Dempsey & Sigurdsson and can fight it out with Holtby for a place as the #10. We have been lacking creativity atound the box. Dembele just hasn't done it much and Paulinho is best further back. I hope that we can get a left back in the next few days as well. This Romanian centreback Chiriches is intriguing too, although I doubt he'll be used much this season.

All I can say at this stage is that it has been quite a surreal transfer window. I hope it works out as planned.

It's a shame that Spurs feel that they have had to replace their English players to get better, but asides from Bale I'm not particularly disappointed to see Huddlestone, Livermore, Parker or Caulker go.